I would sure get a moisture meter and stop watering if it shows the soil is saturated. If you want a good water meter,
the kind used by orchardists, buy a tensionmeter (www.irrometer.com)...they come in different lengths but in general
read further down into the soil than the cheapo moisture meters. I have to tell you I had the same problem as you, but
with young orange trees, during the very hot summer last year. I kept watering without checking the soil moisture. The
trees just got worse instead of better. Eventually I figured it out and stopped watering. Now just this month two of
my newest orange trees, 2 months in the ground, were looking very droopy. I had been watching the 12" irrometer I had
bought, it was reading 30 and I had read not to water until it read 60-70. But it was located just outside of the
dripline and a cheapo moisture meter pushed in close to the tree trunk showed half dry levels. So I gave the trees a
good watering and they started perking up next day, and within two days they were visibly perked up (new growth no
longer drooping) and the leaves no longer curling (longitudinal curling). It took 3-4 days for the water to reach the
irrometer sensor, 12 inches down and 24 inches from the trunk...then it's reading went to 0. So now I have a standard
for these small trees (2 ft-3ft high dwarf Washington Navel and Oro Blanco Grapefruit) . Next time the reading gets to
30, if the trees look un-perky, droopy, or leaves curling, I'll know to water. By the way, a week later and the
reading is still at 0 and the soil still feels moist. I almost killed my other young oranges last summer, not to
mention apple trees, so I won't water until I see the correct reading.

Another thing to do, read this article about using hydrogen peroxide in horticulture, especially the part about
supplying oxygen to soil that is saturated with water. That might be a temporary fix for the problem.

http://www.socalplumeriacare.com/Faq7.htm.

Hope some of this helps.

jc








wrote in message ups.com...
Hello everyone,

I have an old orange tree in northern Florida, about 20 year old I
guess, that has been doing badly since last summer. The problem is
that the tree is experiencing lots of leaf drop. The leaves become
yellow before they drop. I see no obvious signs of pests, such as
discoloration. The tree is trying to put out new shoots, but those
leaves yellow and fall before too long. The extremities of many of
the longer branches are now dead, and I fear that the whole tree is
dying.

The tree is mulched with pine needles, as it has been for years. A
few years ago, the tree was very robust, with lots of growth and a
bumper crop of fruit. I believe a former neighbor applied
fertilizer. The tree still has some fruit, but no blooms this spring.

It has been dry this spring, and I have been watering about 1 - 2
times per week. The tree handled dry spells before without any
problems.

Does anyone have any ideas? I would hate to lose this tree.

Thanks,